Bye Bye Candlestick

There’s a 49er football game Monday night, but it will be somewhat overshadowed by the hoopla surrounding the final game to be played at Candlestick before the team moves to Santa Clara next year. If the Cardinals lose Sunday in Seattle, as expected, the Niners will already have qualified for the playoffs before the game even begins.

Joe Montana Dwight Clark, Ronnie Lott, Eddie Debartolo — all these legends and probably a few more will be on hand for the pre-wrecking ball festivities. Mostly lost in the rampant reminiscing will be the hard reality. As Clark said, “It was a dump. But it was our dump.”

Opposing teams don’t seem to share the nostalgia. To them, Candlestick is just a dump. And a place where they got their butts kicked a whole lot more often than not.

Monday night’s opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, would love to spoil the festivities, but nobody is giving them much chance to succeed in this party-pooping endeavor. They are mercifully nearing the end of an epic fail season. From Super Bowl contenders to NFL bottom feeders almost overnight.

One member of the Falcons is quite familiar with epic fail seasons, and fittingly, his experience was gathered right here at good old Candlestick. This would be Atlanta’s DC Mike Nolan, who was fired as 49er HC right before the 8th game of the failed 2008 season. Atlanta will probably need to fire somebody this offseason to slake their fans thirst for blood, and Nolan seems like a good candidate once again. His defense is ranked 27th in the league. And the HC Mike Smith has enough past success to avoid the guillotine himself.

Still, if you’re going to wander through life as a Mike Smith, you need to get edgy somewhere along the line. Something that makes people go, “Whoa! You’re THAT Mike Smith.” Nothing conjures up a yawn faster than Mike Smith (see Jones, Jim for a vivid example of how to turn a yawn into a scream). And indeed Smith’s teams have been mostly notorious for bland and gutless performances in the postseason. So, if Atlanta gives me a call and asks for my advice, that would be it: fire Smith. He needs a more anonymous job like tight ends coach. This “face of the franchise HC” bit is way over his head.

Hopefully, Monday night will not be the occasion Mike goes all Jeff Fisher on us. Fake punts, trick plays, onside kicks, twenty lateral kick off returns — the whole gamut of weird shit that could seriously disrupt this Candlestick farewell ceremony. Let’s hope Mike just stays in character and glumly leads his troops out on the field and stands there like a statue watching them get dismantled. One last big ass beat down — now that would be the appropriate way to close down “the dump.”

122 comments on “Bye Bye Candlestick”

Lot’s of festivities and distractions coming on Monday Night.
Niners need to focus, play 49er football and retire The Stick with a victory.
Hard to see this happening without Joe Montana as Steve Young will be there part of the ESPN crew with Trent Dilfer. I hope the smokescreen rumor is true.

gawd it would be nice to see all the old guard there to give the stick it’s rightful send off !
so long candlestick park where legends , greats and champions were made ! hello new facility where our new stars will shine and make their own mark in our glorious history !

I’m not sure what John Brodie’s health situation is.
I crossed paths with him over 20 years ago at La Quinta Mountain Course in Palm Springs. He was taking a shot on the PGA Senior Tour.
I know he suffered a stroke a while back in 2000 but has recovered somewhat using stem cell therapy. Just looked him up on Wikipedia and he’s 78 years old now and does live at La Quinta Golf (not the inn) in palm Springs.
He is close friends with Trent Dilfer and allowed Dilfer to wear his retired #12 as a Niner who wanted Brodie back in the spotlight and give him publicity for the HOF.
If he’s able it would be nice for the Niner Faithful to give Brodie one last ovation at the Stick.

Candlestick is being called a dump but it was ultra modern compared to Kezar Stadium.
The 49er locker room was next to Kezar pavilion (the small indoor gym). It looked pretty Spartan and you might equate it to trying to get dressed and take a shower in one of Golden Gate Park’s bathrooms.
The white bench seats and splinters, the afternoon fog, tha seagulls, Polyteachinic High School across the street and no stadium lighting until network TV packages were signed in the late 60’s.
But that was back in the old school days when players actually had off season jobs to make ends meet and to earn a living.

They knocked down Kezar over 25 years ago and replaced it with a smaller venue for high school games.
That was an older chapter and we turned the page.

When I was driving home today I was listening to a football show on the radio. It was a ‘here’s the spread and why you should go this way or that’ type of show. When they got to SF-ATL all they could talk about was Mike Nolan and his defense not being able to get off the field on third down. I thought, that sure sounds familiar.

The NFL schedule is quirky this year having deviated from the past several years where they had Saturday games on the last 2 weekends of the season.
This year everything except the Niner Mon Night Game is on the Sunday.

Your thoughts on Niners taking a look at this berger at QB in the second round? Zach does have a cannon for an arm and might be
a good project. As Mayock says, this guy can spin the ball. I like Aaron Murray but he’s on the short side and now he blew his knee out and is a big question mark.
Last berger Niners drafted was John Engelberger , I think.

Berger, the fact that USC is playing its bowl game on 12/21 tells you all you need to know — time to end that program.

Speaking of ending. Wasn’t the world supposed to end just one year ago on this day? I’m still pissed off at those Mayans. They got my hopes up. Biggest letdown of all time. I would have settled for mass hysteria and some destruction. I got nothing.

Bullit- If Mettenberger is there in Rd 2 I’d be happy with the pick. I don’t think the Rams would let him get to us if he were there in rd 2. Besides, I like Fales even more and think he could be available in rd 3 or 4, but I’d take Fales in rd 2 or 3.

Are you watching the SS for Washington St, SS Deone Bucannon.
He might be someone the Niners take a look at.
I’m running errands before the Mich St BB game as they come to visit Texas. Texas plays North Carolina and Michigan St in the same week. Who made that schedule?

I have never bee to a race track. I didn’t realize Hollywood Park
wasn’t Del Mar or Churchill Downs.
Still the horse race venues are slowly disappearing.

Why is harness racing and dog racing regional?
Greyhounds can reach 40mph? Not talking about the bus.
Still a cheetah runs 60 mph and can get up to speed in 3 seconds.
Learned something new today that the cat is faster.

Some alums are trying to get their BB coach Rick Barnes fired just like Mack. The culture is what are you doing for mr today.
For now Barnes is safe because they are 10-1 and just beat the tarheels.
He can’t reload as fast as Kentucky when guys come in and declare for the draft. The one and done guys are destroying college hoops.

I’ve watched Fales 3 times and haven’t noticed a weak arm. I don’t recall him throwing lasers but I do recall good foot work, mobility and decision making. I have him as a requisite arm while I have McCoy as less than that. I was just on the phone with Del and told him he is a lot like Foles with a little lesser arm but not by much. Maybe if other teams think he doesn’t have the arm we can pick him up in rd 5 or 6! The combine will be more important for him than many other QBs.

Bullit, I was watching the Div. II Championship Game earlier which featured Lenoir-Rhyne University. Do you know the only Niner to be drafted from Lenoir-Rhyne? DE, John Milem. 5th rd in 2000. Berger actually remembered the guy. I think he remembers all Niner D-Lineman from 1980 on.

BTW, you probably know already, but UT BB Coach Rick Barnes played for the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears.

I’ve watched the QB from Wazzu, Conner Halliday, a couple times this year. Did not look so good vs USC looked really good in another game. He looks All-World today.

I was on the phone with Del last year explaining how good the QB Jeff Tuel was for Wazzu. While we were talking Tuel got hurt and Halliday took over for him without either of us noticing. We were both impressed with the QB, suddenly we noticed it was not Tuel, it was Halliday. We still laugh about that one.

Heard an interesting stat. Last 7 teams to win the Super Bowl all lost one of their last two regular games. After we win Monday night, we best take a dump in Arizona. Good chance the game won’t mean anything. Maybe determine whether we’re the 5 or 6 seed. Fat chance on the 5 seed hosting the NFCCG vs the 6.

And I don’t like the fact that Skeebers has drawn a line through my name and prediction. It’s not like it’s some sort of contest. But if it were…

NJ- I am very familiar with Shemikia Copeland since before I even knew you. RenoJim was sent an invite to see her in Reno years ago. Here she is singing with MY big discovery (Crossroads)Gary Clark Jr.!

Berger I just saw your VM.
LMFAO.
I’m not a Democrat or a Republican.
I remain Independent.

NJ is pretty much a Blue State with a Republican Governor.
His Largeness would be considered a RINO by your terminology I’m sure.

He’d make a better Wise Guy in The Sopranos’ cast, if it were still running.
Politics is a necessary evil. They all have an agenda. It usually doesn’t appeal to everyone however.

As for the DTs I mentioned, I’m with you.
Nix would be about the only guy I’d consider early.
The others are just options I’ve provided for consideration.
It’s way too early for my final list.
I also don’t think we’re looking DLine early anyway.

I’m sticking with BPA. Likely WR/DB early.
One guy I’d consider, should he be there for us is, OG Cyril Richardson from Baylor.
All depends on the Iupati extension success.

I’ve seen some Mocks having WR Marqise Lee from USC sliding down the Board.
Bullit mentioned him awhile back.
I’ve never seen him play but, his stat-line is pretty impressive.

WR is a pretty deep position this year.
I must have about 10 guys on the early shopping list right now.
I want to see their numbers after the Bowl Games and the Combines.
We’ve talked about Moncrief, Jordan Matthews, Odell Beckham, Allen Robinson and others.

Good group of talent.
Wouldn’t shock me to see Baalke make a move as he did for Reid either.
Especially if he’s sold on someone rated much higher than we can expect to see lower in the Rd.
It’s a very tough position to Draft.
We’ve not had a lot of luck thus far with the WRs.

When you see stuff like Richard Sherman playing for Harbaugh and Fangio at Stanford and not Drafting him, you wonder how that happens?
Like losing Michael Thomas from the PS.
It’s such a tough landscape to navigate, you wonder how Baalke looks like a genius in some regards and, wonder how he fails in others.

Very tenuous situation for the GMs in this business.
No one pitches a perfect game.
It’s just smart business to have extra Picks rather than shoot your load in an RG III scenario and give up on future needs.
I’d rather throw a few wild pitches or, take a proven FA at the WR position, then to see guys like AJ shrink at this level.

I was in the City with my wife Christmas shopping.
Watched the Falcons arrive at their hotel in Union Square
as SFPD blocked traffic and 4 buses and a truck pulled up.
Too tired and lacked the energy to walk the 2 blocks to take a look.
Didn’t know any football scores til I got home.
Wow just shows you anything can happen with the Seahags choking.
Some suprising scores. It seems Schwartz is done in Motown.

Tonight’s game is all of the sudden a huge game for us. If we win we are in the play offs. We also retain a slight chance to have a first round bye. If we lose we play for just being in the play offs next week in Arizona. We need to win tonight.

Lot of injuries yesterday among the contenders/pretenders.
Steve Smith, Von Miller, Kenny Vaccaro, Ryan Tannehill and Gold Old Clay Matthews all hurt with Miller and Vaccaro sustaining season ending injuries with an ACL and a broken ankle.
Also Jake Long of the Rams also is done with a knee injuiry that might impact him next year which means the Rams might draft
Jake Matthews OT with their pick from the Redskins.

Montana has tweeted he won’t be there tonight which is disappointing but that’s his choice.
I hope that Lon Simmons is able to attend. Simmons who IMO is the Voice of the 49ers and the Giants bar none.

Found this piece of nostalgia about Kezar Stadium and old school 49ers. I said earlier that Kezar didn’t have lights but this video jogged my faltering memory. Kezar had lights but they were not suitable for TV broadcasts.
What I found interesting and had forgotten were the analog clocks that were in use. (let’s see the small hand is on the 2…) In the old days the referee had a gun that he fired to end a quarter. Flags instead of pylons to mark the end zone.
Two post goal posts at the goal line that receivers used as picks. That went the way of the analog clocks.

That Sports Illustarted cover photo gets me in the video.
The guy has a plastic face mask and for some reason a handle on the right side of his helmet perhaps to make it easier to grab hold of him.
The top caption says that’s Y.A. Tittle.

I love the conveniently placed handle on the side of the helmet for snapping poor Y.A.’s neck. Yeah, for all the people complaining about the Stick, Kezar was akin to the stone age. The stands were filled with raging drunk pissed off fans. The bathrooms were dark, mossy concrete caves where folks just pissed where they stood. Sinks, garbage cans, the ground, were all fair game. Quite the adventure for an 8 year old . . .

Yup, 2 4th quarter INTs to lose vs GB is quite the high note. What’s Romeo’s playoff record again, Dennis? He and your pal Peyton are a combined 9-20? Yeehawww. That’s some serious suck. But that’s why you like them.

Officiating can’t get worse that what we saw today.
We had to beat the Falcons and the officials. Plus, I don’t think Atlanta has played this well all year. We forced their QB to throw highly accurate throws and he was sticking them.

Brock jumping that route was a great play. Who would figure it to be trumped by Bowman! Being aggressive was a lot better than when we went 3 D-linemen in the 1st half and allowed Atlanta to catch their rhythm.

Another person? Oh, I thought more like something inflatable, Bullitt. But that would mean you, going strictly by the definition. Or maybe you went all-in and got one of those Japanese high-priced models.

Merry Christmas you crazy crazy guy.

Tell ya though, hell of a way to close the Stick. 90 yard TD in the last minute to seal the game and guarantee the playoff spot? You can’t write this shit.